Guardian Cryptic #29913

2026-01-26

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Across

8a

Strike top and bottom (8)

flowerflowerflower
9a

Bouquet in Rome, as they say there (5)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

“In Rome” is “a Roma” in Italian

10a

Gathering for a drink by the sound of it (4)

flowerflowerflower
11a

$500 loan girl’s arranged (6,4)

Generating...
12a

New edition of Proust causing bewilderment (6)

flowerflowerflower
14a

So-called Philistine (another name of mine) likes a little smut? Cut minister, cut! (8)

flowerflowerflower
15a

Radical start of divisive racist movement (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

D[ivisive] + RACIST*

17a

Weapon kept by those people (3,4)

flowerflowerflower
20a

Personal hint (8)

flowerflowerflower
22a

In bed, agreed to be most reserved (6)

flowerflowerflower
23a

Standard message returned to nearest vacant house (10)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

PAR (standard) + reverse of EMAIL + N[eares]T

24a

Ask cop why not get naked in this part of London (4)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

We need to strip, or remove the outer letters of, aSk cOp wHy nOt

25a

Mope having prepared tea, say? (5)

flowerflowerflower
26a

I got rid of vehicle first and disappeared (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

VAN + I SHED

Down

1d

Traitor getting fed up with East End bully (8)

flowerflowerflower
2d

Going through vapid lyrics without enthusiasm (4)

flowerflowerflower
3d

Rising repercussion of crime (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

Reverse of RE + DRUM

4d

It’s about a leaning in characters, primarily (7)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

A + first letters of Leaning In Characters in IT’S, and another &lit

5d

Tarzan? He abandoned noted childhood home (8)

flowerflowerflower
6d

Disadvantages seen with crime plot (10)

flowerflowerflower
7d

Group of flyers finding something funny with broken leg (6)

flowerflowerflower
13d

Horse rider and bike rider’s location: touring the East of Germany (10)

flowerflowerflower
16d

Upset as an agricultural worker may be (2,1,5)

flowerflowerflower
18d

Trouble for spy boss? (8)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

MI’S CHIEF: where MI = Military Intelligence, usually followed by 5 or 6

19d

Booklet and what follows (7)

flowerflowerflower
21d

Mounting desire to steal underwear in this neighbourhood (6)

Generating...

I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:

BRA in YEN, reversed

22d

Alluding to glimpse when caught (6)

flowerflowerflower
24d

Therefore very mediocre (2-2)

flowerflowerflower